Vapor lamp exhaust machine and method



Dec. 2, 1941. o. R. WOLLENTIN ETAL 2,254,496

VAPOR LAMP EXHAUST MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 12,- 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet l FM l/IJI/ 17mm Y jz INVENTOR a AUMM ATTORNEY 2, 1941. o. R. WOLLENTIN ETAL VAPOR LAMP EXHAUST MACHINE AND- METHOD Filed Sept. 12, 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 may a? INVENTOR I? WOZE Vf/N FY71 MfiY ATTORNEY Dec. 2 1941. o. R. WOLLENTIN ETI'AL VAPOR LAMP EXHAUST MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Sept. 12, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet s III/Ill III/ll/Ill/ mm M ATTORNEY Dw 1941- o. R. WOLLENTIN arm. 2,264,496

VAPOR LAMP EXHAUST MACHINE AND METHOD 7 Filed Sept. 12. 1939 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 imam/e Patented Dec. 2, i941 2,2 VAPOR LAMP EXHAUST MACHINE AND METHOD Otto B. Wollentin,

Bioomiield,andFrcderick Theodore May, Verona, N. 1., lllors to Westhonae lleotrie log Mann! East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation C m any, of Pennsyl- Application September 1:, 1m, Serial No. 294.461: is (Jaime. (01. um)

This invention relates to a machine for exhausting vapor lamps, and especially high-intensity mercury vapor lamps, thereby avoiding a large amount of the manual labor previously necessary in the manufacture of such devices, as well as speeding up production.

An object of our invention is a machine for exhausting vapor lamps automatically, from the time they are put in the machine to the time they are removed ready for introduction of the mercury filling.

Another object of our invention is the provision of a simple compensating device in a vapor lamp exhaust machine to allow for the production of more than one type or size of lamp.

A'further object of our invention is the provision of a mercury vapor lamp exhaust machine having electric ovens of a special design and exceedingly eflicient, thereby not only conserving power, but making more comfortable operating conditions.

A still further object of our invention is the provision of a mercury vapor lamp exhaust machine having new and desirable features, such as a compact spider lifting arrangement, rapid indexing while the machine is going at slow speed, control for the high frequency heating apparatus, compression rubbers for the exhaust tubes. means for heating the mercury capsule at the same time the main envelope is being exhausted, change gears, and coimterbalance mechanism for the spider.

Otheroblects and advantages of the invention, relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds;

Referring to the drawings;

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a machine embodying our invention.

I'igure2isaplanofthemachineshownin Figure l, with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate the construction.

Figures is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line III-III of Figure 2, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional viewonthellneIv-rvofl"igure3,inthedirection of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a: fragmentary plan on the line V-V of Figure 3, in the direction of the arrows.

Figure dis a fragmentary vertical sectional viewontheaxisofthemachinespidenwithparts in elevation.

rlgur 7 is an enlarged Flg'ure chinel fragmentary vertical high intensity mercury -9sshownin!'igure6.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of one form of high intensity mercury vapor lamp.

Figure 9 is a corresponding elevational view of another form of also chine. Figure 10 is an enlargedfraginentary plan of a portion of the spider, as shown in Figure 2, illustrating the details of the compensating device. ure 11 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine, indicating what operation is performed at each station.

Prior to our invention,

high intensity mercury vapor adapted for manufacture on our mavapor devices such as vapor lamps were exhausted on trolley exhaust positions at the relatively slow rate of less than flve lamps per hour, employing all hand operations for flushing and gas filling.- In accordance with our invention, we provide a preferably twenty-four port exhaust machine with three high frequency heating pomtions, eight oven heaters,- and flushing and gasfllling positions. The machine has been developed and is in satisfactory operation, turning out about two lamps per minute.

Referring to the drawings in detail, we see in 1, an elevational view of the complete mal, comprising a base If, supporting a table II from which hollow standards I and it extend. The upper end portions of the and II areunitedbyatransverse merit ll, secured to said standards as by means ofbolts llandnuts ll,saidboltspassingthrough the upper flanges ll of connecting elements 2| threaded to the upper ends of said standards It and II.

Movable vertically between the standards It and II, is a spider 22,-carrying a plurality of oven heaters, designated by the reference characters 23, il, 20, 2-1, is, it and Ii, as by means of a stud", extending from the upper portion of each and passing through a corresponding aperture It in the upper element 34 of the spider 2i, and secured thereto by means of a nut II. The spider is desirably secured to a lower or member 80, as by means of bolts 31 through the web ll of the spider 22, and the underlying flange ll of the guiding member 38 and held in place by nuts 8!.

Thespiderllandassociatedguidingmember 8|, reciprocates vertically on a hollow standard frame elea on avstud 68 extending hole, for example, 86,

A pared with the other.

-or 82, as the case may be.

gage a collar 88 secured to said standard. as by means of set screw 48. The guidingmember 88 is'provided with wear inserts 45 and 48, slidable on the outside of the standard 42, and said standard, in turn, carries wear insert 81 and the pedestal 88 carries wear insert 48, on which slide a spider actuating rod 89, threadably secured to a headed bushing 28 in said spider 22, locked in place with respect thereto by a bolt 88, and serving as a connecting element between the spider 22 and the upper guiding rod'portion 5i thereof,- extending upwardly and slidably engaging a wear member 82, supported on the frame element I8.

To facilitate vertical reciprocation of the spider 22, that element is provided with counterweights 88 connected thereto by means of flexible cords or chains 58, passing over guiding pulleys 85 and 58. In order to make the spider slide freely on its vertical guide elements without binding, the same is equalized by counterweight go from the 51, as it will behoted that without such a counterweight the furnaces 28 to '29, inclusive, and .8], would make the spider overbalanced at one side. Reference to Figures 8 and 9 will show that the exhaust tube 58, of the larger or mercury vapor device 88, is positioned of! axis by a distance A, as compared with the exhaust tube SI of the smaller or 250 wattmercury vapor device 82. Inasmuch as such devices are supported during their passage through ly by their exhaust tubes, it is necessary to have adjusting means for the spider so that the ovens and other devices carried .by said'spider will properly index at will with one type or the other of said lamps. This compensating device is shown most clearly in Figure 18, and consists of a plate 88 carried from the upper portion 34 of the spider 22, and carrying pin. 88 which is adapted to fit in either one of two holes 88 and 61, so spaced that when'said pin is in one the spider is so-positioned with respect to the guide rod 68 embraced by the bifurcated end 89 of said plate 88, that the ex-. haust center line of the machine is spaced behind the furnace and high frequency center line a distance A corresponding with the distance A in.

Figure 8, so that the machine is adapted to take the type of lamp character 88, and when the pin 85 is in the other hole 81, the spider is correspondingly moved so that the machine the other type of lamp designated by the reference character 82. Said adjustment is thus efiected because the circumferential movement of the spider, at the radial distance corresponding with the posit'on of the lamps being manufactured, corresponds with the distance A, shown in Figure 8, or the amount the exhaust tube is offset from the axis, in one type of lamps as comthat the function of the spider 22 is to raise the heaters 28 to 28, inclusive, and 8|, while the plate 1i, carrying the lamps I8 is moving from one the present case &4

It will be understood station to the next, or in of a revolution, or 15, and then lower the ovens over the lamps in their new positions. Mechanism is provided in our machinefor not only automatically and the oven heaters carried thereby, but also for advancing the lamp-carrying plate II the 15' prior to the descent of said ovens at the end o'f-this movement. The mechanism for accomraising and lowering the spider a relatively small spur gear the machine entire- $0 tially engage a roller 88' repeats the operation designated by the reference,

be drawn out of engagement with the gear I8 gear H8,

preferably smaller gear of the actuating rod 88, as

plishing this automatic actuation will now be described.

Figure 1 shows an electric motor or other prime mover 12, the armature shaft 18 of which,

carries a worm 18, as shown in-Figure 3, engaging a worm gear 15in a gear box 18. The gear 15 is fixed on a shaft 11, one end portionof which extends out of the box 18 and has fixed thereon a spur gear 18 constantly-meshing with.

a desirably larger spur gear 18, rotatably mounted on a shaft 8i, carried in a bearing 82 supported from the table I3. The gear I8 has a 83, desirably integral therewith, which gear meshes with a relatively large gear 88, fixed on a jack shaft 85, as shown in Figure 1. The jack shaft also fixedly carries a relatively large spur gear 81, fixedly mounted on a shaft 88 carried in, a bearing 89, supported table I8, the inner end shaft 88 end bearing for the shaft 8|. Said stub shaft carries contact segments 9i, 82, 98 and 98, for energizing the respective high frequency coils at 480 watt 3; the desired times, as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

The stub shaft 88 carries a cam (Figure 4) at its inner or hollow end, said cam desirably having a pair of arms 98 and 91, whichsequen- 98 on a lever arm 99, which rides up on the curved side I88 of each arm until it reaches and passes over the high dwell III, and then drops off the sharp side I82 thereof. to the low dwell portion I88 of the cam, and then on the next arm. When the roller 88 is engaged on the low dwell I88, the arm I88 of the crank mounted, lies backof an arm I88 of a clutch device I8I, and holds the clutch tooth I88 thereof, out of engagement with one of a series of clutch pockets I89 in the spur gear I9. I

In order that the clutch arrangement may be operative, the crank device I88 has another 'arm III, resiliently urged toward the upper wall of the table I3 by means of spring 2, thereby urging the roller 98, carried by the arm 88, into engagement with the'cam 95, and thus causing the arm I88 to move behind the latter, during rotation with the gear 18, will ride on the inclined surface II8 (Figure 5) on the arm I84, and cause the clutch tooth I88 to by moving it to the right, as shown in Figure 8, against the resistance of the actuating spring Ill, acting between it Iii, secured to the shaft 8I as by H8. The shaft device I81, by the feather III on which the device rides during its reciprocation to and from the associated gear 'I9. 4

The other end of the shaft 8| carries a spiral meshing with a ure 2) on a shaft I2I disposed therebelow, and at right angles thereto. Said shaft I2I carries a cam I22, generally most clearly in Figure 1, which cam engages a roller I28 carried by the arm I28 of a bell crank I28, pivoted at I88 to a pedestal I88, the longer arm .,I28,-- of which is connected to the lower end by having its bifurcated end I21 receive a cross pin I28 thereof, so that as the shaft 8I is periodically actuated by the corresponding engagement of the clutch tooth 188 in a pocket I88, the spider 22 and ovens are raised to expose the lamps being evacuated,

means ofpin 88 which meshes with of said stub (Figure 3) being hollow to provide andevice I88, on which it isthe arm I88, so that and an associated collar is caused to turn with the clutch spiral gear H8 (2 8-.

heart shaped, as illustrated allowthemtopassfrom onestationtothenext, andarethenloweneduntil thelampsareagain covered by the ovens.

While this operation of raising and lowering theovensistakingplacetheplate 1| carrying the lamps being evacuated, is being advanced one notch or at a time by means of ratchet and pawl mechanism, to be later described.

The heads I are desirably of the type provided with compression rubbers, as described and claimed in the Lockwood and Mullan application, Serial No. 192,740, filed February 26, 1938, and owned by the assignee of the present application. Theseheadsareeachprovidedwithan operating handle I8I for electing engagement or release of the associated exhaust tube I82 of the lamp bein manufactured, as well as a cut-ofl valve 284 for compressing or releasing it connecting rubber tube as will be clear from a reference to said application. The heads have associated therewith reflectors I88 (Figure 6) preferably formed of aluminum, which are for the P pose of conserving and distributing the heat from th resistance heater coils I84, which are employed'for baking out the auxiliary envelope portions "Leach of which contains a mercury capsule I8! and breaker element I81.

One aluminum reflector I88 is secured to an upper frame member I88 mounted on the headcarrying plate 1|, as by means of bolts I89, screws III being desirably employed 101' that P rpose, as well as to the plate H by screws I58.

The carrying plate 1|, as shown in Figure 6, is desirably secured to the upper element I42 of a valve for eil'ecting the exhausting, flushing, and gas illling of the lamps being manufactured, the lower element I88 oi said valve being sho diagrammatically and more in detail in h1g3 ll.

Although we have shown, for the sake of clearness, a relatively simple valve structure whereby theports areallatthesameradialdistancefrom the axis of rotation, yet it will be understood that we may use an improved valve structure in which the ports are staggered, as described and claimed in the Mullah Patent No. 2,113,798, of April 12, 1938, owned by the assignee of the present application.

The securing of the plate 1| to theupper valve member I42 may be as shown most clearly in Flgure6, thatis, bymeansofanintermediate valve drive bar I, the outer portions of which aresecuredtotheinnerperipheralportionoi th plate H by bolts I, and the inner peripheral portion of which drives the upper valve element I82, by means of pins I, secured to the bar Illbynuts III.

In order to provide for driving the plate 1I and, at the same time, hold the upper valve section I42 tightly engaging the lower valve section I88, said plate desirably has a ratchet ring Ill to a depending angular extension I", means of bolts I48. The ratchet ring I heldinplacebyanannularmeinber III seto a ratchet plate bearing member and valve element support I52, as by mean of bolts I58, and of such a size that its outer peportion overlies the inner peripheral of the ratchet ring I48, thereby holding in assembled relation while allowing orrotationoftheplate1LandtheassocIated shattlLasshowninFigui-ul carriesawheellllhavingacamgroove which travels a roller or projection I58 on one end of a lever I51, mvoted, as indicated at III, the other end of said lever pivotally carrying a ratchet plate operating device I59, on the free end of which is mounted a pawl ItI, pivoted at I18, and actuatedby a spring I62, so that it normally tends to engage in one of the notches I58 in the ratchet wheel I48. The notches are spaced at 15 intervals, so that every time the cam I54 makes one revolution, the pawl Iti pushes the ratchet plate I fifteen degrees ahead or counterclockwise, as viewed in Figure 2. The pawl-ca ying end of the device I5! is guided in any desired manner, as by having the end portions oi the pivot Ill slidably mounted in slots I18 in a guiding device I18 mounted on the table I8.

A latch device I, normally engaging one of the ratchet notches I68, is desirably provided to prevent undesired movement of the ratchet plate I48, said device. I being desirably releasable by the pawl-carrying arm of the lever I51, in order to allow for movement of the ratchet plate I when the pawl IOI is being moved to the right. as viewed in Figure 2. The construction of each of the ovens, furnaces, or heaters 28 to 28, inclusive, and 8|, is dmirably identical so that the details of construction of only one will now be described, with special reference to Figures 6 and 7.

Each oven comprises a central tube I65, desirably formed of alundum or other similar refractory material, the outer surface of which is grooved, as indicated at I86, to provide a helical track for receiving a heating wire I81. This heaflng wire may beoi' any approved high resistance metallic material, such as nichrome, and may be so wound on the tube I that substantially uniform heating conditions prevail inside of said tube.

Outside of the tube I85 is packed loose insulating material I" which is desirably magnesium oxide filler. Holding the insulating filler is a hollow metal cylinder I 69, desirably formed of apollo metal or aluminum. As a final outer casing, we desirably provide a sheet of apollo" metal or aluminum Ill, and between the sheets I89 and "I, is desirably placed aluminum foil I12, crinkled and packed lightly. The outer casing "I has its end portions secured at the top to a head or top flange member I'll, desirably formed of electrobestos or similar refractory material, as by means of screws I14, and at the bottom (Figure 6) to an annular member I15 of similar material in a similar manner, said members "I, I18 and I15 serving to hold the associated members I55, I59 and the loose insulating material together.

The assembled oven is suspended from the spider 22, as by means of the stud 82, the lower --end of which is secured to the cap or flange I18,

and by means of tapered pin I11, the upp r end of said stud carrying a nut 85 for tightening the heater element in place. Energy is supplied to the heating coil ill by means of suitable electric cables I18 and III.

Refen'ingtoFlgureILitwiIJbeseenthatWe have provided for loading the lamps at station I,

' from which station each lamp travels to station ring Ill onthesupporflngelement I52.

11, where it is given a preliminary evacuation. Station 111 carries a leak detector I82, which may be of the type described and claimed in the Fagan Patent No. 1,933,322, of October 31, 1933, owned by the assignee ofsthe present application. Ahigh frequency coil I88 is also desirably provided for indicating visually, by the color of the from leaks. Capsule preheaters, In the form of small gas flames I84, I85, and I88, are also desirably provided at stations II, III and IV.

The resistance heater coils I84 desirably extend from stations V to IX, inclusive, in order to provide for heating the capsule, capsule breaker,

and extension I85, containing these elements, as

much as possible without breaking the capsule circle it with the coils.

At station X1, is provided a mercury manometer I8I and a leak detector I82, which may be in the form of a pirani tube. Thisleak detector is desirably so connected that the exhaust port for evacuating the lamp, is closed atthis station if a leak is indicated, thereby preventing contamination of the vacuum on account of said leak.

At station XII is provided another pair of high frequency coils I93 and I84, operated from slip rings 82 and 84, so that when the coils are lowered over a lamp at this station, they are energized from a suitable high frequency source to effect the desired electrode treatment.

At stations XIII, XIV and XV, there are more ovens, and'at station XVIII another leakdetector I85 is provided. The final high frequency 1 treatment is givenat station XX by coils I88 and I91, actuated by slip rings 88 and 84 from a suitable source of high frequency current. At station XXII, tipping ofi fires I88 are provided.

- Operation We will now describe in detail, the operation of manufacturing a high frequency mercury vapor lamp, from the, time it enters until the time it leaves the disclosed machine embodying our invention.

discharge in the lamp, whether or not it is free A lamp 58 or 62, as'the case may be, is placed .with its exhaust tube I32 in a head I29, (Figure 6) and the lever I8I so actuated that the compression rubber in said head grips said exhaust tube and connects it to the exhaust pipe I88, desirably provided with atrap 28I,' In order to insure proper disposition of the entire lamp, gauges 288 are provided, with which the middle upper lead of each lamp is centered, (Figure 1) the exhaust tube portion 58, if necessary, being sof-I tened to allow for the desired adjustment.

The exhaust pipe I88 connects with the upper valve member I42, and. as the motor 12 rotates .the shaft 8| slowly and intermittently, in accordance with the previous description of the operating mechanism, the spider 22 is raised and, when in raised position, the pawl I8I moves the ratchet wheel I48, and upper valve member I42, fifteen degrees to cause the lamp to advance from loading station I to station II. (Another lamp is then positioned at station I.)

Upon this movement of the upper valve member I42, the exhaust pipe I88 is connected through the preliminary vacuum pipe 282 (Figure 11) to the preliminary vacuum manifold 288, so that the lamp is here given a preliminary exhaust, while, at the same time, the envelopeextension I85, consure of which is suitably controlled, preferably taining the mercury capsule I88 and breaker I81, is given a moderate preheating by fire I84.

Upon another full turn of the shaft 8|, the spider 22 with its ovens and associated apparatus,

such as the high frequency coils, is again raised and lowered, while the lamp is moved to station III, where the preheating of the part I is continued by the fire I 85, and the lamp subjected to a leak test by devices I82 and I88, so that it may be rejected if found defective at this point, and/or the exhaust connection thereto closed by operating the closing .lever 284, by means of the shut off handle I88, to compress the connecting rubber 285, and thereby avoid contaminating the vacuum to that extent. I

Assuming, however, that the lamp is free from leaks, it then passes on in the same manner to stationIV, where the preheating of the part I35 and preliminary exhaust is continued.

Upon passing on to station V, the oven 23 is lowered over the lamp, the exhaust operation, however, being discontinued and said lamp being flushed with argon at a pressure of about one atmosphere through pipe 288, connected toargon manifold 281. The argonfiushing is continued, as indicated in Figure 11, while. the lamp is successively treated at stations VI to IX, inclusive, in heaters 24, 25, 28 and 21, whereupon the lamp then passes to station X where the argon is evacuated through the pipe 288' connected to preliminary vacuum manifold 283, and, at the same time, the high "frequency coils I81 and I88 are energized to'thereby heat the lamp electrodes to the desired degree of temperature and degasify and activate the same.

At station XI, the preliminary exhaust is continued while, at the same time, the lamp is tested by the mercury manometer and leak detector for .rejection and/or closing of the exhaust and flushing connection thereto, if found defective, by op eration of the shut of! handle I88..

At station XII, the lamp is connected to the final vacuum line through pipe 288 from final vacuum manifold 2I I, at the same time the electrodes are further baked out by the high frequencycoils I83 and I84.

At station XIII, the lamp is again given an argon flush through pipe 2I2, while heated in oven 28. The heating and flushing is continued at station XIV, in oven 28.' At station XV, in oven II the flushing is discontinued and the lamp again connected to preliminary vacuum manifold 288, through pipe 2I8.

At'station XVI, the lamp is given another similar argon flush, from manifold 281 through pipe 2 I4, while it is allowed to 0001.

At station xvn, the lamp, while cooling still further, is connected topreliminary vacuum manifold 288 through pipe '2I5.

At station XVIII, the lamp is connected to the final vacuum manifold 2, through pipe 2I8,

while subjected to-high frequency leak detector I85, for rejection and/or closing of the exhaust and flushing connection thereto, if found defective, by operation of the shut-oi! handle 2".

At statiomXIX, the final evacuation is continued through pipe N0. M8, and at station H, the final evacuation is completed while the electrodes are subjected to final high frequency treatment in coils I88 and I81. I

At station XXI, the final argon filling the presabout 20 mm. of mercury, and visually indicated, is supplied through pipe 2 I 8, and at station XXII,

the lamp is tipped off. At station XXIII, or I XXIV, the lamp is removed from the apparatus. From the foregoing disclosure, it will be seen that we have devised a machine and method for exhausting and filling the envelopes of vaporinto. The machine not only provides for heattreating the main envelope of each device, but also the auxiliary envelope in which is contained th mercury capsule and breaker, during predetermined rest periods.

We have also provided a special type of electric oven, for use in the machine, which is exceedingly efficient and not only conserves power, but makes for more comfortable operating conditions. We have also provided a compact spiderlifting arrangement, and for rapid indexing while the machine is going at slow speed, control for the high frequencyheating apparatus, change gears, and counterbalance mechanism for the spider.

Although a preferred embodiment of our invention'has been disclosed, it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps, comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, each of which is adapted to receive the exhaust tube of a lamp being manufactured, said conveyor being rotatable about a normally vertical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovens and reciprocable axially of said conveyor, so as to periodically raise said ovens from lamps and lower them over succeeding lamps upon corresponding movement of said conveyor, and means for coordinating the movement of said conveyor and spider, whereby said conveyor is automatically moved a distance corresponding with the distance between successive ovens, while the ovens are in raised positions thereabove, so that, when lowered, said ovens will receive succeeding lamps in the process of manufacturing, said means-comprising a motor driving gearing and a clutch normally held out of enga'gement with a driving gear, and operated by a cam, so that at predetermined intervals said clutch is engaged to cause a raising movement of the spider and associated ovens, a quick movement of the head from one position to the next, while said ovens are raised, and a loweringof said ovens over the succeeding lamps, the rest periods between clutch engagements providing treating periods for said lamps.

2. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps, comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, each of which is adapted to receive the exhaust tube of a lamp being manufatcured, said conveyor being rotatable about a normally vertical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovensand reciprocable axially of said conveyor, so as to periodically raise 'said ovens from lamps and lower them over succeeding lamps upon corresponding movement of said conveyor, and means for coordinating the movement of said conveyor and spider, whereby said conveyor is automatically moved a distance corresponding with the distance between successive ovens, while the ovens are in raised positions thereabove, so that, when lowered, said ovens will receive succeeding' lamps in the proces of manufacturing.

3. In a machine for exhausting-vapor lamps, aspideradaptedtoraiseandlowerovensfrom and onto lamps being manufactured, a vertical guide disposed along one side of said spider and serving to prevent rotation thereof, a compensating device secured to said spider, and having a bifurcated end embracing said guide, and a pin on the inner end of said compensating device, fitting in one of a plurality of holes in said spider, in order to swing the latter about its axis of reciprocation, and adjust the position of the ovens carried thereby in accordance with the wpe of lamps being manufactured.

counter-w ights attached 4. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps,-

comprising a conveyor rotatable from station to station, a spider, ovens carried by said spider and reciprocable axially of said conveyor, a motor for driving said machine, and driving mechanism between said motor and conveyor and between said motor and spider, said m comprising a shaft carrying a cam, a pawl operated thereby a ratchet secured to said conveyor and engaged by said pawl for station to station rotation, and a camgearedwithrespecttosaidshaftforraising and lowering said ovens by means of said spider, while the conveyor is moved from one station to the next, and means for intermittently moving said shaft, in order to allow predetermined periods, of rest between said movements,

comprising a gear wheel normally loose thereon, andoperatedbysaidmotor,acamalsolooseon said shaft, reduction gearing between said gear wheel and cam, and a clutch operated by said cam to cause said loose gear wheel, when the clutch is engaged, to turn said "shaft for one revolution, and then e until again operated by said cam.

5. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps, comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, each'of whichisadaptedto reeeivethe exhaust tube of a lamp being manufactured, said conveyor being rotatable from station to station about a normally vertical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovens and reciprocable axially of 7 said conveyonsoastoperiodicallyraisesaid ovens fromlampsandiowerthemover' lampstupon station to station movements! said conveyor, and-means for raising and lowering said spider, comprising an actuating rod extmding therefrom beneath said conveyor, a bell crank connectedtothebottomofsaidactuatingrod and having an armextendingupwardly, scam saidarm,ashaftonwhichsaid-cam isfixedmdriveshaftgearedtheretoachrtchon said drive shaft, a drive gear normally rotatable on saidshaft, and a cam rotated at slow speed to cause the clutch to intermittently operaflvely connect said drive gear to said drive shaft to raise and lower said spider during one revolution .6. In a machine for manufacturing vapor lamps,aeonveyorcarry ingaplurality ofheuh and rotatable about a normally verflcal axis, andaspiderreciprocableonsaidaxis,saidspider comprisingacircularmembercan'ying apluralityofovensatonesideandbalancedby a counterweight at the other side, a guiding membersecuredtothelowersurfaceofsaid spidenahollowstandardpassingaxiallyihrough saidconveyorandonwhich said'suidingmanher and spider reciprocate, and an operating member for said spider through-said hollow standard,drivingmeanssecuredto-said operatlngmemberatiisiowerenmandllfflng totheupperportiunof 'of said drive shaft.

' ring for moving said conveyor from station to station, said mechanism being connected to said carried thereby in accordance with the type of 3 lamps being manufactured.

11. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps,

' comprising a conveyor rotatable from station to latch device so as to release the latter prior to forward movement ofsaid pawl mechanism for moving the conveyor from one station to the next, and cam, means for intermittently actuating said pawl mechanism.

8. The method of manufacturing vapor lamps,

comprising moving each lamp envelope, with associated extension containing a mercury capsule and breaker, and exhaust tube depending therefrom, and giving the envelope a preliminary exhaust and moderately preheating its extension, moving the lamp andicontinuing the exhaust and preheating of the extension, subjecting the lamp 'to a leak test, moving'it and continuin the preheating of the extension and preliminary exhaust, moving it and baking, while discontinuing the exhaust operation and flushing with an inert gas, similarly treating said lamp after several succeeding moves, moving it and evacuating the inert gas while treating the lamp electrodes by high frequency induction, moving the lamp while continuing the exhaust and testing for leaks, moving and subjecting said lamp to final exhaust and, at the same time, further baking the electrodes by high frequency induction, moving the lamp and, again flushing with inert gas and baking, continuing said baking while being gas filled, baking while subjecting to preliminary exhaust, flushing said lamp with inert gas while allowing it to cool, giving said lamp a preliminary exhaust; and then a final exhaust while testing for leaks, continuing the final evacuation, giving the electrodes the final high frequency treatment while continuing the final evacuation, giving the lamp the final inert gas filling, and tipping of! said lamp.

' 9. The method of manufacturing vapor lamps, comprising giving each lamp envelope a preliminary exhaust and moderately preheating an associated extension, containing a mercury capsule and breaker, continuing the exhausting and preheating of the extension, subjecting the lamp to a leak test, baking said lamp while the same is flushed with an inert gas, evacuating the inert gas while baking the lamp electrodes, continuing the exhaust while testingfor leaksfsubjecting to final exhaust while further baking the electrodes, again baking while flushing with inert gas, baking while subjecting to preliminary exhaust, flushing with inert gas while allowing the lamp to cool,

giving said lamp a preliminary exhaust and then a final exhaust while testing for leaks, giving the electrodes the final baking. while continuing the final exhaust, givingthe lamp the final inert gas filling, and tipping oif.

station, a spider, ovens carried by said spider, a motor for driving said machine, and driving mechanism between said motor and conveyor and between said motor and spider, saidmechanism comprising means for moving said conveyor from station to station and for raising and lowering said ovens by means of said spider, while the conveyor is so moved, and means for intermit-' tently moving'saidmechanism shaft, in order to ailowpredetermined periods of rest between said movements.

12. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps,

.comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, each of which is adapted to receive the exhaust tube of a lamp being manufactured, said conveyor being rotatable from station to station about a normally vertical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovens and r'eciprocable axially of said conveyor, so as to periodically raise said ovens from lamps and lower them over succeeding lamps upon station to station movement of said conveyor, and means for raising and lowering said spider.

13. In a machine for manufacturing vapor lamps, a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads and rotatable about a normally vertical axis, and a spider reciprocable on said axis, said spider comprising a generally circular member carrying a plurality of ovens at one side and balanced by a counterweight at the other side, a guiding member secured to the lower surface of said spider, and a hollow standard passing axially through said conveyor and on which said guiding member and spider reciprocate.

14. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamp comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, said conveyor being rotatable around a normally vertical axis, a ratchet ring secured to the lower portion of said conveyor, a latch device normally engaging saidratchetring to hold said ring for moving said conveyor from station to- 10. In a machine for exhausting vapor lamps, a

-' device to swing the spider about its axis of re-- ciprocation, and adjust the position of the ovens 75 conveyor indexed with respect to lamp-treating stations, and pawl mechanism periodically releasing said latch device and engaging said ratchet station.

15. The method of manufacturing vapor lamps having electrodes, comprising giving such lamp a -preliminary exhaust, continuing the exhaust- I ing, subjecting to a leak test, baking while flushing with an inert gas, removing the inert gas while baking th lamp electrodes, continuing the exhaust while testing for leaks, subjecting to final exhaust while baking the electrodes, flush- ,ing withinert gas, bakingwhile subjecting to pre- .taining extension, continuing the exhausting and preheating of the extension, subjecting the lamp to a leak test, baking while the lamp is flushed with an inert gas, evacuating the inert gas while baking the lamp electrodes, continuing the exhaust while testing for leaks, subjecting to final exhaust while further baking said electrodes, again baking whil flushing with inert gas, baking while subjecting to preliminary exhaust, flushing with inert gas while allowing the lamp to. cool,

refractory material, the

is grooved to provide a helical track, a high retical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovens,

each of which comprises a central tube formed of sistance heating wire disposed in said track, means for connecting said wire to a source of power, heat insulating material disposed outside of said tube, a hollow cylinder surrounding said tube and holding said insulating material in place, an outer casing of aluminum foil, crinkled, packed lightly, and disposed between said outer casing and hollow cylinder, and upper and lower heads covering said cylinder and casing, means "supporting said oven from said spider through said upper head, said spider being reciprocable axially, so as to periodically raise said ovens from lamps, and lower them over succeeding lamps, upon corresponding movement of said conveyor, and means for coordinating the movement of said spider, whereby said conveyor is'automatically moved a distance corresponding with the distance between successive ovens, while the ovens are in raised positions thereabove, so that, when lowered, said ovens will cover succeeding lamps in the process of manufacturing.

18. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps comprising a conveyor carrying a plurality of heads, each of which is adapted to receive the exhaust tube of a lamp being manufactured, said conveyor being rotatable from station to station about a'normally vertical axis, a spider carrying a plurality of ovens, each of which comprises a central tube formed of refractory material, the

outer surface of which outer surface of which is grooved to provide a helical track, a high resistance heating wire disposed in said track, means for connecting said wire to a source of power, heat insulating material disposed outside of said tube, a hollow-cylinder surrounding said tube and holding said insulating material in place, an outer casing, heat insulating material disposed between said casing and cylinder, and upper and lower heads enclosing said tube, cylinder, and easing, said spider being reciprocable axially of said conveyor, so as to periodically raise said ovens from lamps, and lower them over to station movement'of said conveyor, and means for raising and lowering said spider.

19. A machine for manufacturing vapor lamps, comprising a conveyor rotatable from station to station, a spider, ovens carried by said spider and reciprocable axially of said conveyor, a motor for driving said machine, and driving mechanism between said motor and conveyor and between said motor and spider, a worm carried by the armature shaft of said motor, a worm gear driven turning said shaft a by said worm, a spur gear fixed on the same shaft as said worm gear, a drive shaft comprising part of said driving mechanism on said machine, and means for intermittently moving said shaft and allowing periods of rest between movement, comprising a gear wheel rotatable on said shaft and driven by said spur gear, a cam mounted on said shaft, reduction gearing between said gear wheel and cam, a clutch also-mounted on said shaft and alternately engageable and disengageable with respect to said gear wheel when achiated by said cam, said gear wheel when engaged, predetermined amount and operating the mechanism of said machine, and said clutch then for a rest period.

O'I'IO R. WOLIENTlR- succeeding lamps, upon station 

